Kathmandu: Christians have no right to a cemetery

Kalpit Parajuli

The measure, which was to "preserve the sanctity of the soil near the Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath" compels a minority to seek burial sites concealed in the forest or near the rivers. Christian leader: "We fear that the Nepalese Hindu faith profane our graves." The government does not respond to the requests of the faithful.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) -
Christian communities in Kathmandu are being forced to bury their dead outside
official cemeteries. Local sources told AsiaNews
that "since the government has banned the construction of a cemetery near
the Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath, Christians and other religious minorities in
the country must perform their funeral rites in forests, near rivers, away from
population centres and places under the control of Hindu radicals."

Two years ago, city authorities decided to "protect" the Hindu temple
of Pashupatinath from the presence of other religions, preventing Nepalis from other
religious groups from carrying out their funeral rites near the sanctuary.

"It was decided to
protect the sacredness of Hindu land," said Sushil Nahata, a member of the
Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT). "In some areas, cemeteries were expanding
in an unregulated manner. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure
that Christians are given specific and separate areas."

As a result of government action, religious minorities in the Kathmandu Valley
found themselves forced to bury their dead in hidden places, far from
population centres, with the risk of desecration by some Hindu groups.

Between April and May 2011, members of the Christian community in the capital went
on a hunger strike that lasted for 39 days. This led to the establishment of a 16-member
committee, which includes the minister for Peace and Reconciliation, the minister
of Culture and Tourism as well Christian leaders, whose task is to find a
solution to the dispute.

However, in spite of the
pressure from the religious minority, Nepali authorities have always preferred
to stall or when they did give something, it was always very little.

Indeed, Culture Minister
Ram Kumar Shreshatha noted that "the government is very close to granting the
Christian community a burial ground," but so far the deadline set by the Committee
has come and gone with nothing done.

"If promises prove untrue,
Christians (who make up 1 .4 per cent of the Nepali population) will be forced
to launch a new wave of nationwide protests," said a still hopeful C.B.
Gahatrai.

e-mail this to a friend :

Kathmandu: Christians have no right to a cemetery South Asia Nepal The measure, which was to "preserve the sanctity of the soil near the Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath" compels a minority to seek burial sites concealed in the forest or near the rivers. Christian leader: "We fear that the Nepalese Hindu faith profane our graves." The government does not respond to the requests of the faithful.

28/01/2011 NEPAL Kathmandu gives go ahead to Christian and Muslim cemeteries. Hindus protest The land for the dead is located in a forest near the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath in Kathmandu. For the extremists, the area is sacred. The government decision comes after years of disputes and clashes with the Hindu community reluctant to give space to other faiths. Often Christians and Muslims were forced to bury more dead in the same grave.

As Iraqi troops advance in the Nineveh Plain and Mosul, a new wave of refugees could overshadow the fate of other refugees who found hospitality in Kurdistan. People need kerosene, winter clothes, aid for children, and money for rent. The campaign AsiaNews launched two years ago is more urgent than ever. Give up a superfluous gift to offer refugees an essential gift for life.

In a letter Fr. Samir Youssef describes the situation of refugees, exiled from their home for more than two years. They are closely following the offensive to retake Mosul, although their homes and churches "are for the most part" burned or destroyed. With the arrival of winter there is a serve lack of heating oil, clothes, food and money to pay for their children’s school bus. An appeal to continue to support the AsiaNews campaign.